Brewer urges court to let her keep license policy

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s lawyers are urging an appeals court to let her continue with a policy that denies driver’s licenses for young immigrants who have gotten work permits and avoided deportation under an Obama administration policy.

The advocates have appealed the decision and contend the policy is trumped by federal law.

Brewer’s lawyers told the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in a filing Monday that Arizona’s policy doesn’t conflict with federal law and that the state has authority to distinguish between immigrants with work permits who are on the path toward permanent residency and those benefiting from Obama’s policy.

Last summer, the Obama administration took administrative steps to shield thousands of immigrants from deportation.